By Fred Sgambati (’83)

What a thrill to welcome hundreds of Acadia alumni back to Wolfville for Homecoming 2023!

Temperatures were cool but seasonal, and the rain that was forecast for Saturday and Sunday held off long enough for returning alumni to enjoy a full slate of events in literally every corner of the Acadia campus.  

There was definitely no shortage of things to see and do from Oct. 11-15, and events included the Acadia Business Banquet, with keynote speaker Diane Campbell (’64, ’20 HON); a Tie Dye event in the SUB and Kip Moore concert in the Andrew H. McCain Arena; the successful return of the Bulmer Relay to Waterfront Park in Wolfville with eight teams participating; a Milestone Reunion Reception in the Wu Welcome Centre (Alumni Hall); and an Acadia Sports Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, during which Belinda Campbell ('90), Peter Morris ('88), Paul Doherty ('98), Alison Tuton ('92), and Jan Trojanowski ('98) were welcomed to the Hall.

A terrific crowd of alumni and friends also attended our signature event, the Backyard Barbecue on Clark Terrace. Sponsored by the Acadia Alumni Association, TD Insurance, iA Financial Group, and Stirling Fruit Farms, guests had their choice of hot dogs, burgers, chili and chips and enjoyed live music from The NonRefundables before heading over to Raymond Field for the AUS women’s rugby game between SMU and the Acadia Axewomen. Acadia absolutely owned the day, toppling St. Mary’s 53-14 in front of more than 1,300 fans.

Other varsity sports action was on full display, with the women’s and men’s soccer teams, men’s hockey, women’s volleyball and men’s basketball teams all seeing action over Homecoming Weekend.

Events Acadia hosted the NS SK8 Tour and Axe Factor 2.0 events, and the Acadia Students’ Union put on three concerts as part of a Super SUB Saturday night.

On October 15, Steven Runge headlined Sunday Music in the Garden Room at the K. C. Irving Environmental Science Centre, and a beautiful 60th Anniversary Service in the Manning Memorial Chapel that evening was a wonderful way to wrap up Homecoming 2023.

For more, please see our photo gallery.

(Photos by: Fred Sgambati, Erin Murray, Peter Oleskevich, Nancy Handrigan, Mike Dembeck)